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Rumino Rummy

February 1, 2010

Play Online Rummy Variations – Understanding Rumino

Rummy is a group of card games that share a similar structure.
The basic rummy game follows the draw and discards method of play during each turn.
The structure of play helps the players to meld their cards in groups i.e. sets and runs.
This basic method to play rummy has been followed for centuries by people from all over the world. Hence, you would find a number of variations in the games, especially when you play online rummy, which is a recent development as a result of the Internet revolution.

The beginning of rummy games are traced back to the Chinese card games of the18^th century.
The Chinese game of Mahjong is based on this same peculiarity of drawing and discarding cards which many believe to be the basis of the modern online rummy games we play.
Other rummy enthusiasts believe that rummy games were brought to the west by Spanish immigrants. Conquian, the Spanish card game bears similarity to Gin Rummy and is considered the antecedent for the modern rummy games.
The origins of the numerous variations of rummy are attributed to different continents and countries. Most of them are said to have been developed in America.
Rummy variations like Burraco Rummy and Canasta originated in Uruguay and were brought to the other countries including the United States.

However, there are variations of rummy like Rumino (also known as Rumina) which have a strong Italian connection.
It is said that this intense variation of knock rummy card game may have been devised by Italian immigrants in America during the 1940s.
It is presumed that the Italians adapted the game of Scala Cuarenta to Gin Rummy in order to create the rummy variation ‘Rumino’.

Rumino can be played by a maximum of six players.
Two standard card decks with 52 cards along with 4 Jokers, totaling to 108 cards are used to play this game.
The main goal is to reach 100 points but to keep the score low, since the game is mostly played for small stakes.
To begin with the deal, all players draw a card; the player with the highest card deals first and the dealing for subsequent hands moves to the left.
Every player gets seven cards and the balance un-dealt cards are placed on the table to form the Stock. The uppermost card from the stock is turned up to start off the discard pile.
The player on the left of the dealer begins the game by drawing a card either from the stock pile or the discard pile.

After drawing the card, the player is expected to form “lays” or combinations of three or four cards.
For example, he can form a set of three of a kind or four of a kind.
He could also form a combination of a 3 straight flush or a four-card straight flush.
In Rumino, unlike other online rummy games, the Ace is a low value card.
The Joker is a wild card, which means it can take the place of any other card to complete the group.
After drawing the card and forming lays, the player must cast off one card.
This action completes his turn of play.
It is now the turn of the player seated to his left to draw a card, form lays and discard.
The play continues in this fashion.

The extra cards that remain with the player after forming lays will earn him points.
When you play rummy, specifically Gin Rummy, you have the option of knocking.
In the game of Rumino, the player can knock when it is his turn if he has seven or less than seven points. When this happens, all the players will disclose their cards and add up their scores.
The “lays” are valued zero, in Rumino, while the deadwood cards are valued as follows: Jokers, King, Queen and Jack are counted as 10 points.
The Ace equals 1 point while the other cards from 2 to 10 will be counted according to their index values (2 of hearts=2 points, 3 of spades=3 points, etc.)

When a player draws a card and is in a position to form a lay of 4 as well as a lay of 3, it means he is using all seven cards.
In such a situation, he can declare “Gin” or he is said to be “hitting gin”.
It is also known as “ten less” probably because he is scored -10 points.
Other players will be scored points according to the cards they are left with.
This is one way of halting the hand.
In case the player ‘hits gin’ the first three successive hands while beginning the game, he will automatically win.

The player can declare “Rumino” if he draws 7 of a kind or a 7 card straight flush.
He is the outright winner of that game.
Suppose he has only six cards of a kind, he must wait to declare “Rumino” till he gets the seventh card. However, if another player discards the particular card he is hoping for, he can pick it up without waiting his turn and declare Rumino.

In Rumino, a player going over 100 points gets eliminated from the game.
He can, however, re-buy back into the game for the highest score if he so wishes.
But, there should be at least two players left in the game.
Each time the player re-buys, his stakes double.
Suppose the player re-buys at $10 the first time, the next re-buy for him would be $20.
If only one player remains with 100 or less than 100 points, he is the winner.
The person hitting Rumino is also the winner.
The winner will be awarded all the money in the pool. 
The winner will deal the first hand if a new game is started.

Although Rumino is an interesting rummy card game, I doubt it is available online.
In the present scenario, people prefer to play online rummy because it is extremely convenient, but there are also other variations of Online Rummy at Rummyroyal.com 
There is no need to move out of your comfort zone – all you need is a computer with an internet connection and you can get started with online rummy games of your choice within minutes.
Sites like Rummyroyal.com allow you to choose the online rummy variation you want to play. 
You can either play for cash or play for free and enjoy a thrilling experience without any hassles.
That’s because the computer manages your scores and if play was interrupted, your game will be saved so that you can begin playing rummy where you left off. 

Click Here to get Started or

Watch a video introduction on Online Rummy